Hand operating device for drawing a line

ABSTRACT

Hand operating device for drawing a line having an elongated hollow holder adapted to be gripped by the hand of an operator for the line drawing operation, an ink tank provided in the holder and a rotatable applicator roller mounted at one end of the holder adapted to receive ink from the ink tank onto the periphery thereof while the applicator roller is rollingly contacted with a sheet so as to draw a line thereon with the holder held in upstanding position with the applicator roller positioned at the lowermost position. The ink tank is freely shiftably located in the holder so that the ink tank is urged against the applicator roller under an appropriate contact pressure by the action of gravity of the ink tank when the holder is held in the upstanding position for the line drawing operation thereby insuring an appropriate amount of ink to be supplied to the periphery of the rotating applicator roller so as to permit a correct and accurate line to be drawn on the sheet, and the applicator roller is rotatably supported by a cantilever shaft mounted on the holder thereby facilitating the guiding of the applicator roller by a rule with which the free end of the cantilever shaft is slidingly contacted so as to permit a line to be drawn in accurate position on the sheet. When the holder is maintained in the inverted upright position when the device is not used, the ink tank moves apart from the applicator roller so that the sticking of ink on the periphery of the applicator roller is positively avoided.

United States Patent [191 Kumakura et al.

14 1 Nov. 4, 1975 HAND OPERATING DEVICE FOR DRAWING A LINE [75]Inventors: Toshimi Kumakura; Takashi Hosoyama, both of Tokyo, Japan [73]Assignee: Kabushikikaisha Itoya, Tokyo,

Japan 22 Filed: June 28, 1974 21 Appl. No; 484,278

[30] I Foreign Application Priority Data Apr. 25, 1974 Japan 49-46015Apr. 25, 1974 Japan 49-46016 [52] US. Cl 401/218; 401/208 [5l] Int. Cl.B43M 11/02 [58] Field of Search 401/218, 209, 219, 220, 401 193 [56]References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 391,849 10/1888 Hopkins 401/2081,927,191 9/1933 Warner 401/208 3,263,263 8/1966 Munn 401/218 3,465,6739/1969 Oppenheim 401/208 X 3,537,800 11/1970 Moceri 401/208 X FOREIGNPATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 511,877 ll/l930 Germany ..40l/218 PrimaryExaminer-Lawrence Charles Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Oblon, Fisher,Spivak, McClelland & Maier [57] ABSTRACT Hand operating device fordrawing a line having an elongated hollow holder adapted to be grippedby the hand of an operator for the line drawing operation, an ink tankprovided in the holder and a rotatable applicator roller mounted at oneend of the holder adapted to receive ink from the ink tank onto theperiphery thereof while the applicator roller is rollingly contactedwith a sheet so as to draw a line thereon with the holder held inupstanding position with the applicator roller positioned at thelowermost position. The ink tank is freely shiftably located in theholder so that the ink tank is urged against the applicator roller underan appropriate contact pressure by the action of gravity of the ink tankwhen the holder is held in the upstanding position for the line drawingoperation thereby insuring an appropriate amount of ink to be suppliedto the periphery of the rotating applicator roller so as to permit acorrect and accurate line to be drawn on the sheet, and the applicatorroller is rotatably supported by a cantilever shaft mounted on theholder thereby facilitating the guiding of the applicator roller by arule with which the free end of the cantilever shaft is slidinglycontacted so as to permit a line to be drawn in accurate position on thesheet. When the holder is maintained in the inverted upright positionwhen the device is not used, the ink tank moves apart from theapplicator roller so that the sticking of ink on the periphery of theapplicator roller is positively avoided.

6 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures l2'e 13 5a US. Patent Nov. 4, 1975Sheet10f3 3,917,419

U.S. Patent Nov. 4, 1975 Sheet 2 of? 3,917,419

U.S. Patent Nov. 4, 1975 Sheet 3 of3 3,917,419

Fig. I O

HAND OPERATING DEVICE FOR DRAWING A LINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Thepresent invention relates to a hand operating device for drawing a lineon a sheet and, more particularly, to a device of the type describedabove having an elongated hollow holder adapted to be gripped by thehand of an operator for the line drawing operation, an ink supplyingtank provided in the holder and a applicator roller rotatably mounted onone end of the holder and adapted to be supplied with ink from the inktank and rollingly contact with the sheet so that a line is drawn on thesheet by the rolling contact of the applicator roller with the sheet,the applicator roller being detachably mounted on the holder so thatvarious forms of lines such as solid line, a broken line and a chainline can be drawn on the sheet by interchangeably mounting a selectedapplicator roller of the desired form on the holder.

Heretofore, various devices for drawing a line have been proposed.However, the prior art devicesfor drawing a line have variousdisadvantages in that they have exteriorly projected portions on theouter surface of the holder thereby making the manipulation of thedevice inconvenient, or the construction of the devices is verycomplicated thereby making the production cost high, or accurate anduniform lines can not be drawn by the prior art devices due to defectiveoperation thereof.

The present invention aims at avoiding the above described disadvantagesof the prior art devices for drawing a line.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is toprovide a novel and useful device for drawing a line which is simple inconstruction and inexpensive in manufacture and by which an accurate anduniform line can be drawn on a sheet, while the manipulation of thedevice is made very easy.

The above object is achieved in accordance with the characteristicfeature of the present invention by providing a device for drawing aline having an elongated hollow holder adapted to be gripped by the handof an operator for the line drawing operation, an ink tank provided inthe holder and having an ink supplying portion at one end thereof and aapplicator roller adapted to be supplied with ink onto the peripherythereof from the ink supplying portion of the ink tank and rotatablymounted on one end of the holder for rollingly contacting with a sheeton which a line is to be drawn when the holder is held in uprightposition with the applicator roller positioned at the lowermost positionso that a line is drawn by the rolling contact of the applicator rollerwith the sheet, the device being characterized din that the ink tank isfreely shiftably supported in the holder along the longitudinal axisthereof so that the ink supplying portion of the ink tank slidinglycontacts with the periphery of the applicator roller by the action ofgravity of the ink tank thereby permitting an appropriate amount of inkto be supplied from the ink supplying portion of the ink tank onto theperiphery of the applicator roller when the same is rollingly contactedwith the sheet, and that the applicator roller is rotatably supported bya cantilever shaft mounted at its proximal 2 end on one end of theholder so that the line drawing operation is facilitated by using a rulewhich is slidingly contacted with the free end of the cantilever shaft.

In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, arotatable ink roller is provided within the holder between the inksupplying portion of the ink tank and the applicator roller, which isshiftably supported in the holder along the longitudinal axis thereofand urged by a spring toward! the applicator roller so that the inkroller is rollingly contacted with the applicator roller under anappropriate contact pressure therebetween afforded by the spring as theapplicator roller is rotated during the line drawing operation therebypermitting an appropriate amount of ink to be uniformly supplied fromthe periphery of the ink roller to the periphery of the applicatorroller, while the ink roller is slidingly contacted at its peripherywith the ink supplying portion of the ink tank by virtue of the contactpressure therebetween applied by the action of gravity of the ink tankduring; the line drawing operation thereby permitting an appropriateamount of ink to be supplied from the ink supplying portion to theperiphery of the ink roller while the same is rotated by the applicatorroller rollingly contacting with the sheet during the line drawingoperation so that an accurate and uniform line can be drawn on thesheet.

In accordance with a still further feature of the present invention, theink roller is urged by the spring so as to be axially shifted within apredetermined range, and the cantilever shaft of the applicator rolleris axially shiftably supported on the end of the holder and urged by afurther spring away from the ink roller within a predetermined range sothat the applicator roller is normally held apart from the ink rollerthereby positively preventing ink from sticking on the portion of theperiphery of theapplicator roller at which the applicator roller wouldbe contacted with the ink roller if such a further spring were notprovided, the applicator roller being urged against the ink rolleragainst the action of the further spring when the applicator roller isrollingly contacted with the-sheet for the line drawing operation sothat the contact pressure is held therebetween afforded by the springwhich urges the ink roller toward the applicator rollerthereby insuringan appropriate amount of ink to be supplied to the ink roller and anaccurate line to be drawn on the sheet by virtue of the fact that thesticking of ink on the periphery of the applicator roller is positivelyavoided by normally maintaining the applicator roller in spacedrelationship from the ink roller during the time the device is not used.

The free end of the cantilever shaft may be provided with a flattenedhead of enlarged diameter so as to facilitate the guiding of the deviceby a rule with which the flattened head of the cantilever shaft isslidingly contacted.

Further, the axis of the cantilever shaft may be offset from thelongitudinal axis of the holder so as to facilitate the guiding of thedevice on the sheet by means of a rule.

The applicator roller may be made detachable from the holder so thatvarious forms of lines such as a solid line, a broken line and a chainline can be drawn by interchangeably mounting a selected applicatorroller of the desired form on the holder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectionalview partly broken away showing a first embodiment of the device fordrawing a line constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view showing the arrangement of the applicator rollerof the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view showing amodification of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view showing a furthermodificatioin of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view showing themodification shown in FIG. 4 with the section being rotated by 90 aboutthe longitudinal axis thereof;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view partly broken away showing asecond embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII- VII in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view partly broken away showing theembodiment of FIG. 6 with the section being rotated by 90 about thelongitudinal axis thereof;

FIG. 9 is an end view showing the arrangement of the printing roller ofFIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view showing amodification of FIG. 8;

FIG. II is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view showing a thirdembodiment of the device of the present invention; and

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view showing amodification of FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIG.1 showing the first embodiment of the present invention, it comprises anelongated hollow holder ll adapted to be gripped by the hand of anoperator for the line drawing operation, a hollow connecting member 2with its internal thread threadedly engaged with the outer thread 1a ofthe holder 1, a applicator roller supporting member 4 with its internalthread 4a threadedly engaged with the outer thread 2b of the connectingmember 2.

In accordance with the characteristic feature of the present invention,a cantilever shaft 3a is fixedly secured adjacent to the free end of themember 4 with the axis thereof oriented perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis of the holder 1 as shown and a applicator roller 3 isrotatably mounted on the cantilever shaft 3a, and an ink tank 5containing therein ink to be supplied and having an ink supplyingportion 5a at its one end is freely shiftably located in the holder 1with the ink supplying portion 5a passing through the connecting portion2 and projecting therefrom through an opening in the member 4 so as tobe adapted to contact with the periphery of the applicator roller 3 whenthe line drawing operation is to be effected. A cap 6 is fitted to theopposite end of the holder 1 so as to prevent the ink tank 5 from beingwithdrawn from the holder 1.

Thus, when the holder 1 is held by the and of an operator in theupstanding position with the applicator roller 3 positioned at thelowermost position and the applicator roller 3 is rollingly contactedwith a sheet on which a line is to be drawn, the ink supplying portion5a is slidingly contacted with the periphery of the applicator roller 3with an appropriate contact pressure being held therebetween by virtueof the action of gravity of the ink tank 5 freely shiftably supported inthe holder 1 thereby permitting an appropriate amount of ink to be 4supplied from the ink supplying portion 5a of the ink tank 5 to theperiphery of the applicator roller 3 so that an accurate line can bedrawn on the sheet.

The line drawing operation using a rule can be greatly facilitated bythe provision of the cantilever shaft 3a, because the rule can beconveniently contacted with the free end of the cantilever shaft 3a fordrawing a line exactly in the desired position.

A flattened head 3b of enlarged diameter may be provided at the free endof the cantilever shaft 3a for more conveniently contacting the ruleslidingly with the flattened head 3b of the cantilever shaft 3a.

The applicator roller 3 can be made detachable from the cantilever shaft3a or it can be made detachable together with the cantilever shaft 3afrom the member 4 or the applicator roller 3 can be detached from theconnecting member 2 so that various forms of lines can be drawn byinterchangeably mounting a selected printing roller of the desired formon the holder 1 as described previously.

The construction of the ink tank 5 and the ink sup plying portion 5ashould be varied depending upon the nature of the ink used, such as thekinds of dyestuffs and pigments used in the ink, the surface tension ofthe ink, the viscosity of the ink and the drying rate of the ink or theconfiguration of the applicator roller 3 in order to obtain the optimumcondition of ink supplying operation. For example, in case the capillaryaction is utilized in the ink supplying portion 5a, the size of thecapillary tube must be selected appropriately in conformance with thenature of the ink. Further, when a solid line is to be drawn, an inksupplying portion in the feltlike form is preferably used, whereas, whena broken line or a chain line is to be drawn, an ink supplying portionhaving a relatively hard or firm construction is preferred.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. I, the end surface of the ink supplyingportion 5a is flat and the periphery of the applicator roller 3 contactstangentially with the end surface of the ink supplying portion 5a.

FIG. 3 shows a modification of FIG. 1. In FIG. 3, the connecting member2 is secured to the holder 1 by the threaded engagement of the outerthread Z'a of the member 2 with the internal thread formed in the holder1 and the axis of the cantilever shaft 3a is offset from thelongitudinal axis of the holder 1. The flattened end surface of the inksupplying portion 5a of the ink tank 5 is enlarged so that the peripheryof the applicator roller 3 sliding contacts tangentially with theflattened end surface of the ink supplying portion 5a. Since the axis ofthe applicator roller 3 is offset from longitudinal axis of the holder1, the line drawing operation using a rule is facilitated by slidinglycontacting the flattened head 3b of the cantilever shaft 3a with therule wherein the direction of movement of the applicator roller 3 withrespect to the rule is so determined that the axis of the shaft 3afollows the longitudinal axis of the holder 1 during the guiding by therule.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a further modification of the device of FIG. 1. Inthis embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the applicator roller supportingmember 4' is slidingly fitted around the connecting member 2" threadedlyengaging with the holder 1 and the member 4' is detachably secured tothe connecting member 2' and, hence, to the holder 1 by the engagementof the flange 4a of the member 4' with the internal flange 7a of afastening member 7 threadedly engaging with the holder 1. In like manneras in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the axis of the cantilever shaft3a is offset from the longitudinal axis of the holder 1. However, in theembodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the end surface of the ink supplyingportion 5'a is made in the conical shape and the periphery of theapplicator roller 3 slidingly contacts tangentially with the conicalsurface of the ink supplying portion 5'a thereby insuring an appropriateamount of ink to be supplied from the ink supplying portion Sa to theperiphery of the applicator roller 3 during the rolling contact thereofwith a sheet on which a line is to be drawn.

The configuration of the end surface of the inksupplying portion of theink tank 5 may be varied to any shape such as a concave sphericalsurface and a concave surface of any configuration insofar as theperiphery of the applicator roller 3 tangentially contacts the endsurface of the ink supplying portion of the ink tank during the rollingcontact of the applicator roller with the sheet.

By the arrangement of the device as shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the peripheryof the applicator roller 3 is posi' tively spaced from the ink supplyingportion of the ink tank by maintaining the holder 1 in the invertedupright position with the applicator roller 3 held in the uppermostposition when the device is not used thereby positively preventing inkfrom sticking to the periphery of the applicator roller 3, because theink tank 5 moves apart from the applicator roller 3 by the action ofgravity of the ink tank 5. 1

FIGS. 6 9 show the second embodiment of the present invention in which arotatable ink roller is interposed between the ink supplying portion Saof the ink tank 5 and the applicator roller 3 in order to more uniformlysupply ink to the periphery of the applicator roller 3.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, an ink roller supporting member 13 is axiallyslidinglyfitted in the connecting member 12 which is threadedly securedto the holder 1 by the intermeshing threads 1a and 12a formed in theholder 1 and the member 12, respectively.

The applicator roller supporting member 16 has an arm 16a at one sidethereof which rotatably mounts the cantilever shaft 3a of the applicatorroller 3 and outer thread sections 160 at the other side opposite to theside at which the arm 16a is formed as shown in FIG. 7 which areseparated by a hollow space 16b of the cross shape formed in the member16 as seen in FIG. 7. The outer thread sections 16c are threadedlyengaged with the internal thread 120 formed in the member 12 so as to besecured thereto. As seen in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, the ink roller 15 and theshaft 15a thereof are received in the hollow space 16b of the crossshape formed in the member 16 during the threaded engagement of themember 16 with the member 12 wherein the member 13 supporting the shaft15a of the ink roller 15 is rotated following the rotation of the member16 thereby insuring the parallel relationship between the axis of theshaft 150 and the axis of the cantilever shaft 3a. Thus, the cantilevershaft 3a rotatably supporting the printing roller 3 is stationarilysecured with respect to the holder 1 while the ink roller 15 is axiallyshiftable together with the member 13 in the connecting member 12.

A compression spring 14 is provided in the holder 1 and the connectingmember 12 between the shoulder lb of the holder 1 and the open end ofthe ink roller supporting member 13 as shown in FIG. 6 so that themember 13 is urged by the spring 14 axially of the holder 1 togetherwith the ink roller 15 toward the applicator roller 3so that anappropriate rolling contact pressure is held between the roller 15 andthe roller 3 thereby insuring an appropriate amount of ink to beuniformly supplied from the periphery of the roller 15 to the peripheryof the roller 3 as the roller 3 rollingly contacts with a sheet for theline drawing operation.

In the similar manner as in. the case of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1,the ink supplying portion 5a of the ink tank 5 is urged against theperiphery of the ink roller 15 by the action of gravity of the ink tank5 when the holder 1 is held in the upstanding position for the linedrawing operation, thereby insuring an appropriate amount of ink to besupplied from the ink supplying portion 5a to the periphery of theroller 15.

When the holder 1 is held in the inverted upright position during thetime the device is not used, the ink supplying portion 5a is held apartfrom the periphery of the ink roller 15 due to the action of gravity ofthe ink tank 5 thereby positively preventing ink from sticking on theperiphery of the ink roller 15.

The axis of the applicator roller 3 may be offset from the longitudinalaxis of the holder 1 in like manner as in the case of the embodiment ofFIG. 3 so as to achieve the same effectiveness.

FIG. 10 shows a modification of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6. As showntherein, the cantilever shaft 3a of the applicator roller 3 is supportedby an arm l2'd which is directly secured to the connecting member 12 andthe ink roller supporting member 13 is slidably guided axially by thesliding engagement of a pin 22 fixed to the member 13 with an elongatedaxial slot l2'e formed in the member 12 so that the shaft 15a of the inkroller 15 is held in parallel relationship to the axis of the cantilevershaft 3a. The operation is similar to that shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 11 shows the third embodiment of the present invention in which theapplicator roller 3 is held apart from the ink roller 15 during the timethe device is not used so that ink is prevented from sticking on theportions of the ink roller 15 and the applicator roller 3 at which theycontact with each other. In this embodiment, the shaft of the ink roller15 is slidably supported in the elongated axial slots 12"f formed at thefree end of the connecting member 12" secured to the holder 1 indiameterically opposite relationship to each other so that the roller 15 is movable within a predetermined range as limited by the ends of theelongated slots 12"f, and the shaft 15a is urged by a spring 14' towardthe applicator roller 3.

The applicator roller supporting member 16 is slidably fitted around theconnecting member 12" and axially guided by a pin 22 secured to themember 12" which slidably engages within an elongated axial slot 12"eformed in the member 16' so that the shaft 3a is held in parallel to theshaft 15a. A sleeve 24 threadedly secured to the connecting member 12"serves to limit the axial rightward movement of the member 16' to apredetermined range by the engagement of the shoulder 240 against theshoulder ll6'c as shown in FIG. 11. A compression spring 23 isinterposed between a shoulder formed in the member 12" and a shoulderformed in the member 16' as shown so that the member 16' is urgedaxially so as to normally maintain the applicator roller 3 in spacedrelationship from the ink roller 15.

In the line drawing operation, the applicator roller 3 is urged againsta sheet and rollingly contacted with the sheet with the holder 1 held inupstanding position so that the applicator roller 3 is axially movedagainst the action of the spring 23 so as to rollingly contact with theink roller 15 under the contact pressure held therebetween by the actionof the spring 14' thereby rotating the ink roller 15. Thus, the inksupplying portion 5a urged against the periphery of the ink roller 15 bythe action of gravity of the ink tank 5 supplies ink onto the peripheryof the ink roller 15 which in turn supplies ink uniformly onto theperiphery of the applicator roller 3 thereby permitting a line to bedrawn on the sheet.

FIG. 12 shows a modification of the embodiment of FIG. 11. In theembodiment shown in FIG. 12, the ink roller 15 is rotatably supported bythe ink roller supporting member 13 in like manner as in the case ofFIG. and the member 13 is axially slidingly fitted in the connectingmember 12" secured to the holder 1 but prevented from rotating relativeto the connecting member 12" by the engagement of the shaft a with theaxial slots-formed in the connecting member 12" and urged by the spring14 in like manner as in the case of FIG. 10. The applicator rollersupporting member 16' is axially slidingly fitted around the connectingmember 2" and urged by the spring 23 in like manner as in the case ofFIG. 11 while the engagement of the pin 22 with the axial slot formed inthe member 16 prevents the relative rotation of the member 16' withrespect to the connecting member 12" thereby maintaining the shaft 15ain parallel to the shaft 3a. The operation of the device of FIG. 12 issimilar to that of FIG. 11.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 1 and 12, the ink roller 15 is shownas being axially shiftable with respect to the holder 1 and urged by thespring 14' or 14 toward the applicator roller 3. However, the shaft 15aof the ink roller 15 may be stationarily supported with respect to theholder 1 while permitting the rotation of the shaft 15a about its axis.In this case, the printing roller 3 is urged against the ink roller 15during the line printing operation so as to rotate the ink roller 15 bythe contact pressure given by the applicator roller 3 when a line isbeing drawn.

We claim:

1. In a device for drawing a line having an elongated hollow holder, anink tank provided within said holder and having an ink supplying portionat its one end, a rotatable ink roller provided within said holder withits periphery being adapted to slidingly contact with said ink supplyingportion of said ink tank so as to be supplied with an appropriate amountof ink therefrom as said ink roller is rotated and an applicator rollerrotatably supported at one end of said holder with its periphery beingadapted to rollingly contact with the periphery of said ink roller so asto be supplied with an appropriate amount of ink from said ink rollerfor permitting a line to be drawn on a sheet as said applicator rolleris rollingly contacted with said sheet to thereby rotate said inkroller, the improvement wherein said ink tank is freely shiftablylocated in said holder so that said ink supplying portion is urgedagainst said ink roller by the action of gravity of said ink tank whensaid holder is positioned in upstanding position for drawing a line withsaid applicator roller being located at lowermost position contactingsaid sheet, and said applicator roller is rotatably supported by acantilever shaft mounted on said one end of said holder therebyfacilitating the line drawing operation, and wherein further, said inkroller is shiftably located within said holder in the direction of thelongitudinal axis thereof, a single spring also being provided withinsaid holder so as to urge said ink roller in the longitudinal directiontoward said applicator roller so as to thereby facilitate themaintenance of an appropriate amount of contact pressure between saidink roller and said applicator roller for transmitting an appropriateamount of ink from said ink roller to said applicator roller, while saidink supplying portion of said ink tank is also urged against said inkroller by the action of gravity of said ink tank during the line drawingoperation, said ink tank, said ink roller, and said applicator rollerbeing substantially aligned in the longitudinal direction of saidholder.

2. Device for-drawing a line according to claim 1, wherein saidcantilever shaft of said applicator roller is stationarily mounted withrespect to said holder.

3. Device for drawing a line according to claim 1, wherein saidcantilever shaft is shiftably mounted with respect to said holder in thedirection of the longitudinal axis thereof, another single spring alsobeing provided within said holder for urging said cantilever shaft andsaid applicator roller away from said ink roller within a predeterminedrange so that said applicator roller is normally held apart from saidink roller, whereas, when said applicator roller is urged toward saidink roller against the biasing action of said another spring so as to becontacted therewith by rollingly contacting said applicator roller withsaid 'sheet for the line drawing operation with said holder held in saidupstanding position, an appropriate contact pressure is held betweensaid ink roller and said applicator roller by the action of said singlespring so as to permit an appropriate amount of ink to be transmittedfrom said ink roller to said printing roller, while said ink supplying Yportion of said ink tank is urged against said ink roller by the actionof gravity of said ink tank during the line drawing operation.

4. Device for drawing a line according to claim 1, wherein a flattenedhead of enlarged diameter is formed at the free end of said cantilevershaft facilitating the line drawing operation using a rule.

5. Device for drawing a line according to claim 1, wherein saidapplicator roller is detachably mounted on said holder therebypermitting various forms of lines to be drawn by interchangeablymounting a selected applicator roller of the desired form.

6. Device for drawing a line according to claim 1, wherein the axis ofsaid cantilever shaft is offset from the longitudinal axis of saidholder thereby facilitating the line drawing operation using a rule.

1. In a device for drawing a line having an elongated hollow holder, anink tank provided within said holder and having an ink supplying portionat its one end, a rotatable ink roller provided within said holder withits periphery being adapted to slidingly contact with said ink supplyingportion of said ink tank so as to be supplied with an appropriate amountof ink therefrom as said ink roller is rotated and an applicator rollerrotatably supported at one end of said holder with its periphery beingadapted to rollingly contact with the periphery of said ink roller so asto be supplied with an appropriate amount of ink from said ink rollerfor permitting a line to be drawn on a sheet as said applicator rolleris rollingly contacted with said sheet to thereby rotate said inkroller, the improvement wherein said ink tank is freely shiftablylocated in said holder so that said ink supplying portion is urgedagainst said ink roller by the action of gravity of said ink tank whensaid holder is positioned in upstanding position for drawing a line withsaid applicator roller being located at lowermost position contactingsaid sheet, and said applicator roller is rotatably supported by acantilever shaft mounted on said one end of said holder therebyfacilitating the line drawing operation, and wherein further, said inkroller is shiftably located within said holder in the direction of thelongitudinal axis thereof, a single spring also being provided withinsaid holder so as to urge said ink roller in the longitudinal directiontoward said applicator roller so as to thereby facilitate themaintenance of an appropriate amount of contact pressure between saidink roller and said applicator roller for transmitting an appropriateamount of ink from said ink roller to said applicator roller, while saidink supplying portion of said ink tank is also urged against said inkroller by the action of gravity of said ink tank during the line drawingoperation, said ink tank, said ink roller, and said applicator rollerbeing substantially aligned in the longitudinal direction of saidholder.
 2. Device for drawing a line according to claim 1, wherein saidcantilever shaft of said applicator roller is stationarily mounted withrespect to said holder.
 3. Device for drawing a line according to claim1, wherein said cantilever shaft is shiftably mounted with respect tosaid holder in the direction of the longitudinal axis thereof, anothersingle spring also being provided within said holder for urging saidcantilever shaft and said applicator roller away from said ink rollerwithin a predetermined range so that said applicator roller is normallyheld apart from said ink roller, whereas, when said applicator roller isurged toward said ink roller against the biasing action of said anotherspring so as to be contacted therewith by rollingly contacting saidapplicator roller with said sheet for the line drawing operation withsaid holder held in said upstanding position, an appropriate contactpressure is held between said ink roller and said applicator roller bythe action of said single spring so as to permit an appropriate amountof ink to be transmitted from said ink roller to said printing roller,while said ink supplying portion of said ink tank is urged against saidink roller by the action of gravity of said ink tank during the linedrawing operation.
 4. Device for drawing a line according to claim 1,wherein a flattened head of enlarged diameter is formed at the free endof said cantilever shaft facilitating the line drawing operation using arule.
 5. Device for drawing a line according to claim 1, wherein saidapplicator roller is detachably mounted on said holder therebypermitting various forms of lines to be drawn by interchangeablymounting a selected applicator roller of the desired form.
 6. Device fordrawing a line according to claim 1, wherein the axis of said cantilevershaft is offset from the longitudinal axis of said holder therebyfacilitating the line drawing operation using a rule.